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How-To Geek

Perhaps the most remarkable thing about the recently-released Ubuntu 13.04 is that it isn’t remarkable at all. Ubuntu 13.04 contains the latest versions of software and additional polish, but there are no must-have features that will make you rush to upgrade.

At some point, individual releases of Ubuntu became more of an option for enthusiasts. Ubuntu’s download site pushes Ubuntu 12.04 LTS as the most prominent option, software like Valve’s Steam is designed to support Ubuntu 12.04 LTS first and foremost, and the LTS version is continually updated with support for the latest hardware.

What is Ubuntu LTS?

LTS stands for “long-term support.” LTS releases were originally intended for business users, giving them a stable platform they could install that would be supported with security updates for years.

However, Ubuntu also produces new releases every six months. Traditionally, average users stuck with the every-six-month releases. These were the standard way of getting Ubuntu before LTS releases were released. Even after the first LTS releases, every new release of Ubuntu offered compelling features, important new versions of software, and polish that made them compelling to average users.

Support and Security Patches

LTS releases are designed to be stable platforms that you can stick with for a long time. Ubuntu guarantees LTS releases will receive security updates and other bug fixes as well as hardware support improvements (in other words, new kernel and X server versions) for five years. The current LTS release, Ubuntu 12.04, will be supported until April 2017.

In comparison, a regular release will only be supported for nine months. Considering new versions of Ubuntu are released every six months, you’ll have three months after a new version is released to upgrade to it or you won’t receive security patches anymore. You’ll probably want to upgrade to every LTS version — new LTS versions are released every two years. If you stick with the LTS version, you’ll still get a new Ubuntu release every two years.

LTS versions are designed to be more polished, while the standard releases bring you the latest features that may not be completely finished yet. For example, Ubuntu 13.04 removes the Gwibber social networking client because it’s not stable, but it will likely be back in the next version. When you use the latest release, you’ll end up upgrading every six to nine months. When you use the LTS version, you can upgrade every two years or even hold on for five years.

LTS: Not Just for Businesses Anymore

In its original release, Valve’s Steam for Linux only officially supported the 12.04 LTS version of Ubuntu. Even if you want to play the latest Linux games, the LTS version is good enough — in fact, it is preferred. Ubuntu rolled out updates to the LTS version so that Steam would work better on it. The LTS version is far from stagnant — your software will work just fine on it.

Mark Shuttleworth is even talking about backporting the latest version of the Unity desktop to the LTS release of Ubuntu, demonstrating Ubuntu’s commitment to the LTS release by saying “I really think we should back port unity 7 to 12.04!” In response, a developer noted “We already backported almost all the “safe” speed improvements.”

Developers of the Mythbuntu PVR system based on Ubuntu have standardized on the LTS release and are only releasing versions of Mythbuntu based on Ubuntu LTS. There’s no compelling reason to release a new version of Mythbuntu every six months when the LTS version will receive improvements that allow it to support the latest hardware.

Upgrading to later releases will give you the latest versions of software, but this isn’t as critical as it once was — even if you’re using your Linux PC for gaming or multimedia. If you need the latest version of a critical application, you can always use a third-party PPA to install just that one program without having to upgrade your entire Ubuntu platform.

Why You Might Want to Use the Latest Release

So who is the latest version for? Well, if you want to be on the bleeding edge, have the latest versions of all your software, and use the latest features before they make it to the LTS version of Ubuntu, upgrade to the every-six-month releases. If you’re a developer who needs the latest versions of certain packages, you might want to upgrade if getting them on the LTS version of Ubuntu is too much trouble. If you use Linux because you like tinkering and experimenting with the latest software — and don’t want things getting too boring and predictable — upgrade to the latest release.

However, you’re not missing out much by using the LTS release. You don’t have to upgrade every six months anymore — Ubuntu’s LTS release is well-supported and will run all the software you depend on. It’s regularly updated with new hardware support and performance improvements, so you shouldn’t have to upgrade to make your Wi-Fi work properly or dramatically speed up your desktop.

Ubuntu 13.04 may be boring and not a hugely compelling upgrade, but that’s really a triumph for Ubuntu and desktop Linux. We don’t have to upgrade every six months anymore because the software we’re already using is so good.

If you use Ubuntu, have you stuck with the LTS release or are you upgrading to every individual release?

My hp mini 311-1000nr that i have had for a few years have been through 2 system repair discs so i decided to get ubuntu. Actually I have got the 12.04lts and i am using it right now. It is different from the last time i used it but it is a big improvment. My mini also runs alot smoother. Also if anyone has ubuntu tips let me know as i do feel like a newb to it now.

Purely a matter of personal choice. I haven't used the LTS since 2008. I don't mind doing a clean install every so often. I also test the alpha and beta versions of each upcoming release.

For those who dislike doing clean installs or are not that good at doing them then the LTS is the best option. They are supported for 3 years I believe. See I am not quite sure because I don't use LTS.

Edit: I just checked, it is now 5 years!

Someone using any version of Ubuntu can still get software not available in the repositories, provided they know how to compile from source code.

If you have everything you need backed up then a clean install every now and then is a good idea. If not then stick to the LTS.The same applies to Linux Mint which you don't mention.Incidently the Gnome version of Ubuntu is worth looking into.

I use Debian, which, while not the same as Ubuntu, has different releases. It is known for being stable, but very slow to release updates. Here is what I do:

Servers run the stable release. When a new stable release becomes officially stable, I am a big chicken and still wait a month or two to upgrade.

My desktop runs testing. I treat it as a rolling release, and always have fairly new, but very reliable software.

The laptop tends to have more issues with updates (wireless drivers and such) so it runs testing, but the named release. Once the release has been stable for a couple of months, about the time I update the servers, I update the laptop to the new testing.

Ubuntu users could do the same thing. Run the regular release for machines that it would be nice to have the newer software, and don't do a version upgrade the day it comes out, while using LTS for machines where less volatility is needed.

I too prefer Linux Mint (MATE) but they don't exactly "support" the LTS concept very well. That's not to say that Linux Mint doesn't have a LTS version - they do! But visit Mint's web page to try and download a copy and you'll likely be downloading their current release and not an "LTS" version which I believe is Mint version 13 (which is also not what you might assume to be number 12 too). Mint's LTS version is not well documented and just finding it will not be very obvious either. You'll likely have to poke around someone's FTP area (likely, a mirror) to get it. And even if you get Mint's LTS version, you'll likely have a ton of updates after installing.

With Ubuntu and their LTS versions, they at least provide a more current (.iso) image. I believe the most current Ubuntu LTS version as of 5/10/13 is 12.04.2 where you should note the .2 suffix - it's akin to the Windows Service Pack idea. You simply won't get that kind of support with Mint (or most anyone else) and it's probably the one big gripe I have with it. Probably my other big gripe with Mint would be their seeming inability to focus on one desktop now that they're spidering off with more weird stuff like Mint Debian edition (LMDE), Mint Cinnamon, etc. (An indication that there may be too many cooks in the kitchen, if you ask me.)

It annoys me that I'll probably be using Ubuntu over Mint for any real systems. I'm annoyed since Mint really shines after it's installed. But just installing Mint and then receiving support do seem to be it's biggest weaknesses. So until the "head cook" for the Mint project is able to focus on one desktop and then actually support some kind of LTS concept, I'm afraid I'll only be using Mint in a virtual environment from now on.

... And in case you didn't know, you can have a GNOME desktop, or pretty much any other desktop with almost any "standard" distro too! Ubuntu just makes it particularly easy since the hardest part would be downloading a new/different desktop using the appropriate PPA (which is already configured).

That means that with Ubuntu, you just use something like the Synaptec Package Manager or the more pleasing Ubuntu Software Center to find and install the GNOME desktop - no fiddling around with repository editing. Afterwords, log out and then choose the new desktop when logging back in again - done! That logging in part may be the hardest part of the process since most desktop users probably never even see the log in screen (just like Windows).

And if you have the auto login feature enabled (which you probably enabled when installing), you only have to do this log in procedure once. (BTW, this also works with XBMC too.)

i agree mint should focus on one desktop. mint debian completely blows and i'm not sure why they took over netrunner when they already have a kde version. if they were to focus on one desktop environment i'm convinced they would pull away with the next operating system of choice.

I have been saying that since I joined the old HTG forum in response to the Unity haters who bailed out on Ubuntu without ever knowing they can have any DE they desire with Ubuntu. Or maybe they are just too lazy, I don't know but I can never figure out the so called logic in that argument against Ubuntu. But yet some of these same people will do everything they can to change the GUI experience for windows 8, but won't try to install Gnome in Ubuntu. Go figure.